Shedeur Sanders was expected to be chosen in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. As you’re aware, that did not happen. The reason has been speculated to be a multitude of things. The main criticisms have been that Sanders is perceived as being too entitled, vain, and immature, as well as unprofessional when meeting with NFL team officials. Fast forward through the draft process, and the Cleveland Browns decided to take Sanders in the fifth round, all the while also selecting quarterback Dillon Gabriel from Oregon. The Browns are throwing QBs at a wall to see what sticks? Say it ain’t so! However, they have been doing so for years. Are we any closer to one of the quarterbacks on the roster being “The guy” in Cleveland, finally?
One would think that Shedeur Sanders would have been humbled a bit by slipping into the mid to late rounds of the draft, but that wasn’t enough. At one point, before the Browns would trade Kenny Pickett, Sanders was 4th on the QB depth chart. Again, it still wasn’t enough. Now that Joe Flacco has been benched for the foreseeable future in Cleveland, the Browns have chosen to start Dillon Gabriel ahead of Sanders and have even stated that Flacco will serve as Gabriel’s backup, keeping him at third on the depth chart.
Let’s not forget that Sanders was pranked during the draft by Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich’s son pretending to be a GM. Was a situation such as this enough to light a fire under Sanders? We don’t know yet, do we? Are the Browns playing games with Sanders? Or, do they flat-out undervalue him? If the latter is the case, why draft him in the first place? Was it for the sure-fire media circus to follow?
NFL Insider Ian Rapoport has recently stated, “I did hear about the other quarterback. There are a lot of things inside the Browns building that they like about Shedeur Sanders. His innate feel in a football game, they like his ability, they like how cool he is under pressure.” Rapoport also said, “It just doesn’t seem, as of right now, that he’s ready to be a starting quarterback, which is okay. That was what they believed when they drafted him. That’s why he went in the fifth round. Will we get a look at him later in the season? It does sound like we probably will.”
It all sounds like a blanket statement by Cleveland. What if Gabriel steps in and becomes the leader that Cleveland has been searching for for 25 years? How would you implement Sanders exactly? He deserves an opportunity to prove himself to a franchise, at the very least, regardless of the off-field issues or his attitude. His recent “mime tactics” weren’t a good look either, but we can overlook that one for now. You draft talent to help put your team in the best position to win, and Cleveland isn’t it right now.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: The Browns have plans for Shedeur Sanders, just not right now
